Traffic Calming....grrrr.....

[exbfb]

I'm really not cut out for being a genuine road cyclist.

This morning, I dropped the car off for an MOT and brought the bike with me to cycle home.
A mere 3.5 miles uphill, gasp

Anyway, en route is the village which I grew up in.
I've never ever cycled through it since the traffic calming went in.
Basically, there are 4 chicanes arranged all the way through the place.

Being a good boy, I made a valiant attempt to assume primary position to actually go through them this morning. There's no room for me and a car, so I cycled in a defensive manner and moved out assertively to follow the flow of traffic.
I'm moving at the same speed as the traffic, but at two of the junctions, two complete tossers absolutely insisted in taking me as we went into the chicanes.
Not a good idea to upset the cyclist when when you're in a situation where can keep up with you and you can't escape.

Much as I was uninjured and much as the two miscreants are now full aware of the driving standards to which they must adhere, that's another road I won't willingly go down again as a first choice.

How come, semi rural villages etc. are more dangerous than relatively wide and fast moving roads ?
Hope I don't run out of roads in which I'm still prepared to travel.

 

[dellzeqq]

chicanes are one of the oddest, most perverse devices imaginable. Speedhumps would have been cheaper, but people complain about their exhaust pipes getting damaged.

Presuming these were put in by the County Council, would you think it worthwhile writing to the Highways Department, copying your letter to your local councillor, asking them to remove the chicanes. You chances of success might be zero, but it might cause them to think twice before doing it somewhere else.

 

[exbfb]

They've been in for years, unfortunately.

What I would appreciate is if the narrow bit of tarmac to the side of the chicanes, which are just wide enought to ride a bicycle on were actually usable.
3 of the 4 are plaster with junk, gravel, glass etc.
The remaining one was nice and clear, and even though I had priority at that one to go through the chicane, I happily went to the side and waved through the car coming the other way, and was given a friendly wave back. That's always appreciated.

This should work. The road to the left as you go through is usually absolutely full of cars.

Croy Traffic Calming 1

Got taken at this one when I was on the position of the camera car.
The car coming the other way coming through against priority is very typical.

This final chicane was fine, as I kept to the left, but it's still pretty dodgy.

 

[Jezston]

At least they've made a little 9 inch cycle path on the sides so you can go through, get clipped on a bollard, lose control then get sideswiped by a car coming round it as you emerge!

 

[HLaB]

I'm glad they ripped them mostly out of DEX spine road, they've left one of them though :-( on a steepish hill, you have to giveway up hill and have the priority downhill. Its a pain having to stop and when I'm freewheeling downhill (25mph+) in the primary drivers look at me as if its me who has had the temerity not to give way and a few idiots just keep on coming!

The only one Ive seen OK ish done is at Kinnesswood, it has a smaller island letting me go through on the right without having to cross the centreline if there is oncoming traffic. I can just ease off let the car through and progress through without having got put in a weak position and subject to the p'ture zone.

 

[cadseen]

I also try to ride defensively through these, but some wont be stopped

As I was riding through one the other day, (the type where there is one island in the middle of the road and the lane is restricted both sides) I was passed by a police car in a hurry! as he went into the ongoing lane and passed me that way. He turned his siren on to justify it though !!